From Ralph Izard

[dateline] Paris 26 April 1779

[salute] Dr. Sr.

As I have not been able to procure from Dr. Franklin his reasons in writing for disobeying
the order of Congress of 7th May 1778, I have desired Mr. Lee to favour me with a
Copy of his Minutes, respecting our conversation on that subject on 12th of January
last.1 I enclose them for your perusal, and should be obliged to you if you would attest
them. If you find any mistakes, or omissions, you will be so good as to favour me
with a state of the conversation. You will be pleased to let Mr. Ford take a Copy
of both papers, and return me the originals.2

I enclosed you a Letter two days ago, by the Post, from Holland; it will give me pleasure
to learn that it has brought you agreeable news.

1. For this incident, involving Franklin's refusal to honor drafts of Izard and William
Lee, see Izard to the Commissioners, 12 Jan., note 1 (above). The enclosed “Minutes” by Arthur Lee have not been found.

2. JA's reply of 13 May, in which the “originals” were presumably enclosed, has not been
found, but for some indication of its content see Izard's letter of 21 May (below).

Docno: ADMS-06-08-02-0041

Author: Schweighauser, John Daniel

Recipient: Adams, John

Date: 1779-04-26

From J. D. Schweighauser

[dateline] Nantes 26 April 1779

[salute] Sir

I have the honor of sending you inclose a Letter1 received per this Morning's post and altho I expect to have that of seeing you dayly
I have thought proper to send it you per this conveyance as if you are on your way
here that it can not miss you on the road.

We have learnt that the french frigate the Surveillante has sent it [in] two English Privateers at L Orient and sunk three others. The Prince of Nassau with
four or five Ships is gone to make a descent on Jersey.2 One of the Gentleman who goes down to Mindin3 will deliver you the Bag you ordered for your papers, all the other articles are
ready and will be sent when You direct. I shall be happy if you would tell me if you'll
take your wine from Mr. Williams and if you'll want any white wine—the Captains Steward
is come to me to day and I see that there is but 8 dollars per Month allowed him by
Congress4 therefore imagine that he must be cloathed as the seamen who have the same Wages.

1. Letter not identified. On the 27th Schweighauser hastily wrote again (Adams Papers) to transmit a letter just received from Benjamin Franklin, presumably that of 24 April (above), advising JA that the Alliance would not be returning to America. JA received that letter on the morning of the 28th and immediately set out for Nantes
(JA, Diary and Autobiography, 2:363).

2. The French attack on Jersey occurred on 1 May, when troops led by Charles Henri Nicolas
Othon, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, attempted a landing at Owens Bay. The assault was
beaten off by the militia and regular troops on the island, and further attempts were
forestalled by the arrival of British naval forces (London Chronicle, 4–6, 6–8, 8–11 May; Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale).

3. Pointe du Minden, the Alliance's anchorage, is opposite St. Nazaire at the mouth of the Loire.

4. The rate of pay for seamen is according to the revised scale adopted by the congress
on 15 Nov. 1776. The pay for a steward, however, is listed as ten dollars per month
(JCC, 6:954).